If enacted into law, the Circus Cruelty Prevention Act, which was introduced by California Sen. Ben Hueso (D-San Diego), will prohibit the use of wild and exotic animals (excluding domestic cats, domestic dogs, and horses) in circuses throughout the state.

From March 23 - 24, 2019, the #YULINDOG exhibit was featured in Bridge 8 Art Space, an art museum in Shanghai, China, ahead of this year's Yulin Dog Meat Festival a gruesome "celebration" held in Yulin, China each June on the summer solstice during which thousands of dogs are brutally tortured and killed for their meat.

On March 28, 2019, the Maryland Senate unanimously passed a final version of the 2019 Cownose Ray Fishery Management Plan and Moratorium on Contests (HB 213) by a vote of 47-0 — extending the moratorium on the cruel and unncessary killing of Chesapeake Bay's precious cownose rays until the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) creates a definite fishery management plan for the species. The bill now goes to the desk of Maryland Governor Larry Hogan to be signed into law.

Canadian Bill S-203: Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act is scheduled to undergo clause-by-clause consideration Tuesday, April 2 during the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans hearing, and Marineland has issued a last-minute request for amendments to the bill.

Just two days after the reopening of Southern California's Santa Anita Park racetrack, another racehorse died Sunday, March 31 — bringing the horse death toll to 23 since the start of the season in December 2018.

Earlier this week, Head of Virunga National Park's Airwing Program and Chief Pilot Anthony Caere and park Rangers successfully rescued a six-month-old baby chimpanzee named Tony from the hands of wildlife traffickers.

On February 19, 2019, Sen. Ben Hueso (D-San Diego) introduced SB 313 (also known as the Circus Cruelty Prevention Act) in the California State Senate. If passed, the bill will ban the use of wild and exotic animals in circuses in California — but it won't happen without your help!

Despite the disturbing deaths of 22 horses since the season started in December 2018, Santa Anita Park race track is set to reopen on Friday, March 29, 2019, pending approval from the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB).

Following the cancellation of last week's scheduled meeting, the CHRB is set to meet on Thursday, March 28 to approve the reopening of the park.

Earlier this week, New York State Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D-Manhattan) introduced anti-fur legislation that, if passed, would ban the manufacture and sale of animal pelts statewide by January 1, 2021 — the New York Postreports.

This falls on the heels of California's proposed statewide fur ban— the Fur Products Prohibition Act, AB 44 — which recently passed its first hearing in the California Assembly's Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee.

On Thursday, March 14, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed SF 519 (also known as Ag-Gag 2.0) into law effective immediately, making "agricultural production facility trespass" a crime and allowing for the prosecution of those that use deception or conspire with others in order to gain access to agricultural facilities "with the intent to cause physical or economic harm or other injury to the agricultural production facility's operations, agricultural animals, crop, owner, personnel, equipment, building, premises, business interest, or customer."

LCA is calling for the closure of Santa Anita Park racetrack in Southern California following the death of 3-year-old filly Princess Lili B, who was euthanized on Thursday, March 14, after suffering a serious injury while working out at the track. This marks the 22nd horse to die at the track since the season started in December 2018.

Two New York legislators — Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Queens) and Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal (D-Manhattan) — have introduced legislation that would prohibit the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet stores across the state. If passed, the bill (S.4234/A.6298) would make New York the third state in the nation — following California and Maryland — to ban the sales of pets from puppy mills and breeders.

On Tuesday, March 12, California's proposed statewide fur ban —the Fur Products Prohibition Act, AB 44— passed its first hearing in the California Assembly's Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee with a vote of 10-4, putting California on track to become the first state in the nation to outlaw fur.

Following the 21st horse death at Santa Anita Park race track in Southern California, the park closed its track on Tuesday, March 5 and suspended future racing indefinitely in order for experts to conduct "additional extensive testing" of the track's soil.

In total, an alleged 23 horses have died since the start of the meet on December 26, 2018 — two of which park officials have not included in the total death toll due to them being considered "non-racing" deaths.

For over 35 years, LCA has worked tirelessly to expose animal cruelty and make real change for animals.

In honor of the 14th Annual National Horse Protection Day (also known as World Horse Day)—an observance that raises awareness for the plight of horses around the globe—here are five LCA campaigns and investigations that are dedicated to helping horses: